Denmark’s parliamentary elections on Tuesday resulted in a fragmented vote, with neither the left nor right bloc securing a majority, according to exit polls.
Social Democrats Win, But Suffer Historic Low
The Danish Social Democratic Party won Tuesday’s parliamentary elections with a disappointing 19.2% of the vote. This result, despite being a victory, represents the party’s lowest support since 1901, a significant drop from the 27.5% they achieved in 2022.
Fragmented Parliament, Centrists Hold Key
Neither the left-wing bloc (83 seats) nor the right-wing bloc (78 seats) achieved the 90 seats needed for a majority in the 179-member parliament, as indicated by exit polls from public broadcaster DR. The centrist Moderate Party, with 8.2% (14 seats), will likely be the kingmaker.
Shift on the Right: Libertarians Outperform Liberals
The Socialist People’s Party secured second place with 11.4% of the vote. The libertarian Liberal Alliance achieved the third-best result with 10.5%, surpassing the Liberal Party, which received 9.3%. This marks a change in leadership on the right, with 34-year-old Alex Vanopslagh at the helm; Vanopslagh has previously admitted to past cocaine use.
All Parties Cross Threshold
Exit polls show that all 12 parties exceeded the 2% electoral threshold and will participate in the distribution of seats.
Incumbent Coalition Unlikely to Return
Denmark has been governed since 2022 by a coalition of Social Democrats, the Liberal Party, and the Moderates. The exit poll suggests this coalition will not be renewed.
Liberal Leader Faces Disappointment, Moderate Leader Eyes Premiership
The poor performance of the Liberal Party is a setback for its leader, current Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Conversely, the strong showing of the Moderates is seen as a success for Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s campaign. Many commentators believe Rasmussen has a strong chance of becoming the new Prime Minister, having previously held the position from 2009-2011 and 2015-2019 as leader of the Liberal Party.
